ABSTRACT
Holidays and birthdays during their fi rst year on welfare were particularly traumatic for them. For months prior to [Christmas], the television paraded an endless series of programs and commercials before her children’s eyes that showed Santa Claus and loving families enjoying the holiday season. These scenes typically contained beautifully adorned trees, brightly coloured seasonal decorations, and individually selected gifts that demonstrated either their love for one another or the fact that they had been good all year long. Anita’s children anxiously asked for her reassurance that they had behaved properly during the year so that Santa would come to their house with his bag full of toys. They also were concerned that the small tree and meagre decorations in their home didn’t display the proper Christmas spirit. Anita told them they were all good boys and that Santa Claus came without regard for the quality of the decor in a home.
